Wide-angle Camera Accepts A Variety Of Films And Lenses

Before Italian architectural photographer Vincenzo Silvestri introduced his new Silvestri 6 by 7 MB, wide-angle cameras offering both perspective control and focusable lenses all had shortcomings.

Major 35 mm. camera manufacturers developed wide-angle PC (perspective control) lenses, but users were limited to the small-format film.

Several medium-format camera producers added a PC lens to their line of optics, but owners of these models have only one choice of focal length.

Some major view-camera companies offer 4-by-5-inch wide-angle, bellowsless models, but they are larger than the Silvestri, and the focusing mounts of their interchangeable lenses are much bulkier.

Well-known California photographer Peter Gowland makes two wide-angle models; but the one offering perspective control has a fixed-focus lens mount, and the other has a focusable lens mount but no perspective control.

Silvestri adopted the strengths of previous models and incorporated them into an extremely compact camera that is flexible both in regard to film format and lens choice, offers an adequate amount of perspective control, is well built and features ample Italian industrial-design flair.

The camera`s body is constructed from matte-black aluminum and resembles a sculptural interpretation of an I-beam section. Its size barely exceeds that of the lens, extending just far enough to allow for 25 mm. of geared lens movement and a pedestal at both the top and bottom.

The Silvestri features a bayonet lens mount (popular on 35 mm. SLRs), which accepts four focusable Schneider lenses: f:5.6 47 mm., 65 mm. and 75 mm. Super Angulon and f:5.6 100 mm. Symmar-S. All lenses may also be used on conventional view cameras via an optional adapter. Photographers can also choose their lenses mounted in either standard Copal or self-cocking shutter models.

A self-cocking shutter offers increased flexibility to architectural photographers, allowing them to carry less strobe equipment. Multiple flashes of small strobe units can be used to equal the power of one flash from larger models. A conventional shutter, however, requires the photographer to manually after each exposure, thus risking slight camera movement. With a self-cocking shutter, the camera need not be touched.

The Silvestri accepts roll-film backs from two popular manufacturers, Mamiya and Horseman. A variety of formats is available, including 6 by 4.5, 6 by 7, 6 by 8 and 6 by 9 (the 6-by-9 back requires a focusing device). A Polaroid back is also available.

The camera`s Graflock back rotates 360 dgrees and features built-in levels and a gridded BosScreen ground glass. A leather-bellows focusing hood with built-in magnifier is standard equipment on the MB.

The camera`s 25 mm. of lens movement is intended as a rise, but shift and fall movements can be accomplished by tilting the camera 90 degrees for shifts or by mounting it upside down on the tripod (tripod sockets are provided on both top and bottom) for fall movement. The amount of possible lens movement will vary with different lens/film-format combinations.

An accessory shoe is provided on the top of the camera to accommodate auxiliary viewers, which combined with the camera`s diminutive size makes for easy hand-held shooting.

The current list price for the Silvestri 6 by 7 MB is $2,195, minus lens and film back. The list price for bayonet-mount Schneider lenses ranges from $1,195 to $1,995. In-store discounts are available.

A second model, the Silvestri 6 by 7 M, is also being offered. However, this camera is equipped with a fixed-focus 47 mm. Super Angulon, which negates much of the MB`s flexibility.